TVNZ chair called MPs bastards and the enemy

Craig Boyce

Former TVNZ chairman Craig Boyce called MPs on the select committee inquiry into TVNZ "bastards" and "the enemy", emails released under the Official Information Act show.

An email from Mr Boyce cautions former chief executive officer Ian Fraser not to discuss undisclosed matters that occurred midway though last year between Mr Fraser and former board member Dame Ann Hercus - "that would be a disaster for everyone", the email says.

The emails between Mr Boyce and Mr Fraser were about their respective appearances before the inquiry and were released to National MP Murray McCully.

Mr McCully has referred the emails to the privileges committee and says the email about Dame Ann amounts to a "strategy to mislead the committee".

The inquiry was launched after Mr Fraser's resignation and a high-profile pay dispute involving Close Up presenter Susan Wood.

The inquiry has not yet been concluded. However, Mr Boyce was recently found in contempt of Parliament in an interim decision by the privileges committee for censuring Mr Fraser over his critical comments about the board to the inquiry.

Ironically, the emails suggest that Mr Fraser retained good relations with Mr Boyce despite his resignation citing a loss of confidence in the board.

"If you hadn't been the chair I would have given up in despair more than six months ago," Mr Fraser tells Mr Boyce three days before his appearance.

Christchurch-based Mr Boyce explains in his emails that he wants to meet to discuss their evidence and they are attempting to find a mutually acceptable time.

Mr Boyce: "I would like for you and I to have the chance for a talk after the 4pm meeting about the select committee inquiry on Wednesday. It will be bloody - no question - and I am sure we agree these bastards are our enemy - so how do we defend ourselves and the company in the best way."

Another email says those appearing before the committee agreed to get agreement on the line they would be taking "otherwise it will be divide and conquer by the Rodney Hides of this world".

Mr Hide, the Act leader, is a member of the committee.

Mr Boyce said the inquiry "was always going to be a useless exercise - now it's likely to be toxic as well".

As the pair decide on a time and place to meet, Mr Boyce concludes: "OK Ian, see you there at 4pm. We just need to understand for the SC [select committee] what each intends to say - I am very anxious to not get into [issues of] the board room as you say, but more so not to get into the mid year stuff between yourself and Ann - that would be a disaster for everyone - Ann acknowledges this and may not be there due to her father's terminal illness. My concern is that if you read McCully's blog of Friday, he is hinting that something went very wrong at this time."

Dame Ann resigned from the board in 2004 over the row about the salary paid to former newsreader Judy Bailey, and admitted telling Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey about it. She was subsequently reinstated but then resigned the day Mr Fraser appeared at the select committee.

Mr Fraser told the committee that the leaking of Bailey's salary "corroded the relationship between the board and management almost irretrievably".

Prime Minister Helen Clark described Mr Boyce's emails as "to say the least a little inappropriate".

Select committee chairman Shane Jones described the emails as "inciteful rather than insightful", and said all members of the committee were honorable.